Bailway-crossing sighal



Patented June 24', 1919.

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Patented June 24, 1919.

ETNESSjIZ. I r I I Jig B fiazwwmm ATTORNEY Irrnn STATES PATE T OFFICE- HOMER S. BERSLEY, OF COG'rGrOlT, IOWA.

aurens.

To all whomit may concern Be it. known'that I, HOMER S. BERSLEY, a citizen'of the; United States, residing at Coggon, in th e'county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements 1 in Railway-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in. railway crossing signals,-and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a railway signal including actuating means located at each crossing which is adapted to be operated by a passing train. at one crossing whereby suitable signals at an anterior crossing may be sounded and indicatedto warn persons at. the crossing ofthe approach of the train. a

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch mechanism situated at arail way crossing with means adapted to be engaged by the wheels of a passing train whereby certain members of the switch mechanisms are actuated to operatev a luminous and an audiolesignal at an anterior crossing. e

i-tnother object of the invention is to provide a device of. the class described having duplicate switch mechanisms adapted to be operated by the wheels of the passing trains the switch mechanisms including intcr-connections whereby signals at an anterior cross ing may be indicated and the signals at a posterior and previously indicated crossing may be simultaneously restored to an inop' erative position.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the vfollowing specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section illustrating the mechanism at two crossings'the electrical signal mechanism being indicated diagrammatically,

Fig. 2 is aplan view illustrating the ar- I rangement of the mechanism adjacent to a rail, the web of the rail being shown in sec-.

Fi 3 is an enlarged section of the mechaiiisi1i sliowii atthe right of Fig. 1. one of the pairs of switch contacts being shown in engagement as when the switch mechanism its fulcrum 12.

RAILwAY-cnossnm SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J [1119 24, 1919. Application filed July 3,1917. Serial No. 178,406. l l l of the posterior operating device is actuated, and

Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line 41- 1: of Fig. 3.

In carrying out/my invention it will be observed that I locate a switch box 1 adjacent to one of the rails 2 of the railway. The switch box 1 is preferably metallic and is providedwith the top 3 having a longitudinal opening or slot 1. One of the boxes 1 is sunk into the ground at each railway crossing a sufficient. distance that the top 3 is disposed substantially the distance beneath the base of the rail 2 shown in Fig. 1.

A trip lever 5 is fulcrumed as atfi within the box 1 and projects above the rail 2 as shown in Fig. 1 so that it may be engaged by the tread ot a wheel 7 or by some other tripping'means carried by a train. The trip lever 5 includes arcua-te arms 8 and 9 which, together with the tripping lever 5, are movable in the slot in the top 3 and extend with in thebox 1 under normal conditions.

Actuating levers 10 and 11 respectively by the trip lever 5 when the latter is moved on the fulcrum -6 through the medium of the engagement therewith of the tread of the wheel 7. Contractile springs 13 are attached to the lower ends of the levers 10 and 11 and to a standard 14 mounted in the box 1.

The springs 13 hold the levers 10 and 11' in a normally erect position.

A chain 15 connects the actuating lever 11 of one switch box 1 with the actuating lever 10 of a succeeding switch box 1. The chains pass ovecicllers 16 within. the box 1 and over a second idler 17 in the bend of each of a pair of tubes 18 branching from the top 8. The trip lever 5 in'moving toward the right causes the engagement therewith of the beveled portion 11 of the lever 11 causing the lever 11 to move in a clockwise direction on This results in the exertion of a pull on the chain 15 ldading to the actuatinglever 10 in the switch box 1 at the right of Fig. 1, causing said actuating lever 1.0 also to move in a clock-wise direction until it reaches the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The movement of the actuating lever 10 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, permits the engagement of a movable contact 19with a fixed contact 20 by the movement of the supporting block of the movable-contact, in a. manner to be hereinafter described. A contractile spring 21 is connected-between the lower end of each of the actuating levers 10' and 11 and the insulating block 22 on which the movable contact 19 is mounted. "The purpose of the contractile spring 21 is 'to normally draw the movable contact toward the companion lever and out of engagement with the fixed contact 20. The springs 21 are smaller and weaker than the springs 13.

The engagement of the movable contact 19 with the fixed contact 20, releases a latch 23 normally disposed behind the insulated block 22, and the latch 23 moves upwardly behind the block 22 preventing the disengagement of the contact 19 with the contact 20 by'the stored tension in the spring 21. The latch 23 is actuated by a spring 24: which is wound about the stem The latch '23, is mounted in suitable brackets 26 supported on the walls of the box 1,

figure, is connected through the medium of a chain 27 with the lower end of the arcuate arm 8. Idler rollers 28 support and guide the chains 27.

lVhen the trip lever 5 is moved on its ful' crum 6 toward the right, a-pull is exerted on the right hand latch 23 through the medium of the chain 27. This pull will simply be spent onthe spring 24 of the latch 23 and will have no efl'ect on the movable contact 19. The same movement of the trip lever 5 causes a pull to be exerted on the chain 27 connected with the lower end of the arcuate lever which will result in moving the latch 23 at the left of the figure down- 'ardly. This pull will also 'be spent on the spring and should the movable contact 19 be in engagement with the fixed contact 20, the tension stored in the retractile spring 21 will serve to separate the contacts 19 and 20 and break an electric circuit. Each of the movable contact supporting blocks 22 is provided with ribs 22 which are slidable in grooves in a suitable guide way 29 as shown in Fig. 4. The guide ways 29 and the insulating supports for the fixed contacts 20 are mounted on brackets 30 extending from the walls of the box 1. It should also be observed that the lower ends of the arcuate portions 8 and 9 have connected thereto,

' cated to the right in Fig. 1.

springs 31 which are jointed to the top The springs 31 assist in returning the trip lever 5 to a normal position after it is acted upon by the moving wheel 7 of a train.

In order to prevent foreign matter from entering the box 1 through the slot t, a casing 1 is built on top of the. box 1 over the slot 4:. The casing 1' in turn has a slot "l' in which the protruding end of the lever 5 moves. -A slidable cover 1" prevents dirt and other substances getting into the casing l. The cover 1 is connected to the lever 5 in any suitable way. a pivot pin 1' being indicated. It will readily be understood. of course. that as the lever 5 rocks to and fro on its tulcrum 6, the cover 1 will simply slide on top of the casing 1 and keep the slot 1 covered at all times. The pivot pin 1 on the sliding cover i has a slot connection with the lever 55, this being necessary to compensate for the arcuate movement of the trip lever 5 when it is moved. as previously explained.

Indicating devices consisting of an incandescent lamp 32 and an audible signal consisting of a bell 33, are locatedat each grade crossing of the railway. Current for the operation of the signals 32 and 33 is derived from line wires 3- Branchconnections 35 and 36 which are normally open. terminate at and are closable by the contacts 19 and 20. The closure of the electric circuit through the branch 35 upon. engagement of the movable contact 19 with fixed contact 20.

causes current from the line wires 3+ to llow through the luminous signal 32 aml the The normal )osition of the )arts is as indi- At this time the various contacts 19 and 20 which are moved into engagement with the fixed contact 20 at a previous operation. The branch circuit 35 was thus closed and warnings through the medium of the signals 32 and 33 issued at the crossing.

The trip lever 5 in moving one side engages the upper beveled end 11 of the actuating lever 11 causing the lever 11 to rock in a clockwise direction and exert a pull on the chain 15. This pull being transmitted to the lever 10 in the box 1 at the right of Fig. 1, permits the engagement of the movable contact 19 with the fixed contact 20 so that a position of the parts is reached as indicated in Fig. 3. In this figure it will also be ohserved that the pullaon, the chain 15 above referred to, causes the. actuating lever 10 to be swungto the ,dotted line. positionwhereby the lower end of the lever 10 will engage the block 22 and Slide this block to move. the con-' tact 19;.intoengagement with the contact 20 to close the circuit; The spring 21 under such condition maybe sprung to one side intermediate its ends ,or it may be caught beh to tween the lever-rand block and force the blockover by the push of the lever upon'the spring, The spring 13 connected with the lower ends of the actuating lever being more powerful than the spring 21' causes the return of thelever 10to its erect or normal position thus stretching the spring 21. The

latch 23 in the meantime was forced upwardly by the spring 24: into' the path of the.

insulating block 22 and prevents the diseagagement of the contacts 19 and 20'. The branch circuit 35' at the right of Fig. 1 is thus closed as shown in F'i 1' and a warning is issued through the" medium of the signals 32 and 33.

25 As previously stated, the engagement of" the wheels 7 with the upper ends'of the abut ment lever 5, causes the'exertion of apull on the companion chain 27. This being thecase,

at the left of Fig. 1, the respective latches 23 are retracted 'and'since the latch 23 at the left is the only one holding the contact niem bers 19 and 20 in engagement, it follows that c the pull on the chain 27 causes the retraction of this latch and permits the disengagement of the contact 19 with the contact 20 thus causing the discontinuation ofthe operation:

of the signals 32 and33. N The same operation follows as the train approaches the successive grade crossings, it

49 being understood that as the wheels? of the I train engageeach trip lever, the signals of" 50 parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: a 1 1. A crossing signal including aswitch box, a pivoted trip adapted to be rocked by a movable abutment, 1a localcircuit .including an electric signal, terminal contacts--'of the local circuit adaptedto beclosed, means for latching the contacts into'engagement, box, a pivoted trip in the switch box;ha\*- ing a portion projecting above a i'aihan area 125 .i'iate. arm on" the trip having a spring icon-- and means for unlatching the contacts upon rocking the pivoted trip.

2. A crossing signal including a pair of switch boxes located at railway crossings; n pivoted trip in onebox adaptedto be"- rocked by a movable abutment. a local circuit embracing an electrlc signal associated closed, a latchffor retaining the contacts-infill:

said other box adapted to close the contacts with each box, terminal contacts, in one box adapted to be closed, means for latching v the contacts in closed position, terminal cont acts in the other box, said contacts being separated, and ineans for simultaneouslyuh};

latching thecontacts-of one box, and clos ing the contacts of the other box upon rock ing the trip lever of the first named box.

A crossing signal including a pair of switch boxes located at crossings, a pivoted 7,5

trip adapted to be rocked bya ,movable abutmenua local, circuit embracing an eleci' tric signal associated Wltll' each box,ter minal sccontacts 1none box adapted to be engagement,"terminal contacts in the otherflf box normally opened, anactuating lever n" an actuating lever in the first named ho adapted to be engaged by-the pivoted tripytb" a flexible connection between saidactuati'ng levers, and ca flexible. connection between the latch of the first named box and the pi-voted trip for simultaneously retracting the latch i to separate the contacts of the first-na1ned 9t) box and opera-ting the actuating lever of" the second named box" to close its contacts.

4. A crossing, signal including a switch box below a rail, apivoted trip in thebox 1 extending above the rail, an arcuateportion on the trip,'a local circuit embracing an electric signal associated withthe box, a fixed and a movable terminal contact for the circ'uit, said contacts adapted to'be closed, an

' actuatinglever adapted to close the contacts, "a spring,v latch for holding the contacts closed, and a fiexibleconnection' between the ''arcuate portion of the trip lever and the" 1 latch for retracting the latch upon rocking? of the pivoted tri} l f 5. A crossing signal including a switch' box below a rail, a pivoted trip in the box extending above the rail, anarcuate 'po'r- 'tion on the trip, local circuit embracing an electricsignal associated with the box,a. 1' 0 fixed and a movable terminal contact for the circuit, said contacts adapted to be closed, an actuati-ng lever adapted to, close-* the contacts,,a spring latch for holding the contacts closed, a flexible connection be-1115 tween the arcuate portion of the trip lever I and the latch for retractingthe latch upon rocking of the pivoted trip, a second actu-w ating lever in the box, "and means for actua 5 'ating a'nd'closing the contacts ofan anterior switch box upon-engagement with thelast enanied act-uating'lever by the pivoted trip.

GPA crossing signal including a switch" nected with the" box, a fixed Contact and a 1;

:movable montart, a local circuitembracing contacts into engagement, at retractile spring between the movable contact and said lever, a retraetile spring for holding the lever in a normalposition, a spring latch associated with the ll'lOVQblGCOlltilCt, and a flexible connection between the arcuate arm and the spring latch for retracting the latch upon movement of the pivoted trip in one direction. I

7. A 'crossingsignal including a pair of switch boxes located at crossings, a pair of actuating-levers pivoted in each switch box, means connecting a lever in one box with a lever in the remaining box, springs between the actuating levers for retaining them in erect position, fixed contacts and movable contacts in each box for the terminals of circuits, spring connections between the actuating levers and the movable contacts, spring latches co-acting with the movable contacts, a pivoted trip between each pair of actuating levers having a portion extending above the rail, arcuate arms on the trip -="l1'aving springs secured to the switch box,'.

and flexible connections between the arcuate arms and the spring latches.

8. The combination of a switch box, a bracket arranged therein, a fixed contact including an insulating block, a guide way, a

movable contact, an insulating block having a. rib movable in the guide way, an actuating lever having spring connection with the insulating block of the movable contact, posteriorly actuated means for moving the contacts into engagement, a spring actuated latch for retaining the contacts in engagement, a pivoted trip adapted to be engaged by a movable abutment on the track, and

connection therebetween and the spring latch for releasing the contacts.

9. A crossing signal including a pair of switch boxes,'a movable trip in one box adapted to be moved by a movable abutment, a local circuit embracing an electric signal associated with each box, terminal contacts "in one box adapted to be closed, terminal contacts in the other box, said contacts being normally separated, and means for simul taneously unlatching the contacts of one boxand closing the contacts of the other box upon movement of the trip of the first named box.

10. A crossing signal including switch boxes, a mo able trip, a local circuit embracing an electric signal associated with each box, terminal contacts in one box adapted to be closed, a latch for retaining the first named box adapted to be engaged I by the trip, a connection between said actu ating levers, and a connection between the latch of the first named box and the movable trip, for simultaneously retracting the latch and separate the contacts of the first named box for operating the actuating lever of the second named box to close its contact.

. the trip.

12. A crossing signal including a switch box, a movable trip in the box, an arm on said trip, a local circuit including an electric signal associated with the box, fixed and movable terminal contacts in' the circuit, said terminal contacts adapted to 'be closed, an actuating lever adapted to close the contacts,a spring latch for holding the contacts closed, a connection between the arm of the trip and the latch for retracting the latch upon movement of the-trip, a. second actuating lever in the box, and means for actuating and closing the contacts of an anterior switch box upon engagement with the last named actuating levervby the trip.

13. A crossing signal including a switch box, a movable trip in the switch box, an

arm on the trip having a spring connected.

with the box, a. fixed contact and a movable contact, a local circuit embracing an electric signal terminating at said contacts, an actuating lever for moving said contacts into engagement, a retractile coil spring between the movable contact and said lever, aretraetile spring for holding the lever in one position, a spring latch associated with the movable contact, a. connection between the arm and the spring latch for retracting the movable contact upon movement of the trip in one'direction.

14. A crossing signal including a plurality of switch boxes, a pair of actuating levers pivoted in each box, means connecting the lever of one box with the lever of the remain-ing box, springs between the actuating levers for retaining the same in erect position, fixed contacts and movable contacts in each box for the terminals of circuits, spring connections between the actuating levers and the movable contacts, spring latches co-acting with the movable trip between each pair of actuating levers, an arm in the switch box having springs secured to the switch box, and connections-between. the arms and the spring latches.

15. The combination of a switch box, a. bracket arranged therein, a fixed contact including an insulating block a guide way, a mova'b e contact, an insulating block having a rib movable in the guide Way, an actuating lever having spring connnection with the insulating block of the movable contact, posteriorly actuated means for moving the contacts into engagement, a spring actuated latch for retaining the contacts in en-' gagement, a movable trip, and connections In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.HOMER S. BERSLEY.

Witnesses: F. W. LINDAHL, F. E.' PATTON. 

